FromSoftware undeniably took a big risk with Elden Ring Nightreign's drastic departure from its predecessors. While online co-op has long been a staple feature in Dark Souls and Elden Ring, the studio has never made a game that hinges entirely around the spirit of jolly cooperation. However, the most dramatic shift is in its structure: Elden Ring Nightreign is a session-based multiplayer roguelike akin to Risk of Rain 2, and, understandably, gamers may have been concerned about this divergence from the contemplative exploration, environmental storytelling, and illusive quests that made these games legendary.

Our time with Elden Ring Nightreign has utterly dispelled any reservations we may have had about this radical reimagining of FromSoftware's action RPG formula. Its roguelike format is as addicting as the best examples in the genre, and the subtle systemic changes that enable its rapid-fire sessions have resolved many of the frustrations that arose from Elden Ring's pacing. Eschewing character builds in favor of pre-made characters was, yet again, quite a risk considering the player base's fondness for devising unique character builds, but even this brought tremendous benefits.

Game Rant recently visited Bandai Namco's office to experience Elden Ring Nightreign from beginning to "end." Our preview's content was substantially limited compared to the full release, presumably due to FromSoftware's desire for players to discover the rest as a community. As such, we only had access to four of the eight playable characters, bosses were pulled from a much smaller pool, environmental changes were absent, and we didn't have access to meta-progression beyond its first layer. Although we defeated the final boss, we didn't see what may happen afterward; it was implied that the game evolves heavily beyond this point. Even with so much content concealed, we had a blast trying every character, strategizing with our team, and even facing familiar bosses from the original Dark Souls.

Elden Ring Nightreign's Roguelike Cycle

Elden Ring Nightreign runs are three-day cycles with each day lasting roughly 15 minutes and the third day sending us to a new location with a vendor and an anvil before tackling the final boss—the only activity on day three. We begin a run by flying above the area and quickly deciding where to drop with our team. As soon as we land, a Fortnite-style circle slowly engulfs the map until reaching a focal point somewhere toward the center. This is the basis for its day structure: once the circle is done shrinking, a boss fight ensues, and defeating it reverts the circle to the outside. Although the map is largely static —castles and camps are always in the same places—the enemy variety, loot, events, and bosses change every run.

Very quickly, we established a routine with our teammates. Clearing one small camp of easy enemies always nets enough Runes for the first level-up, and leveling is incredibly important here. Going from level one to two doubles a character's health pool, and it's recommended to be at least level 12 before reaching day three. While Elden Ring's stat sheet has carried over to Nightreign, stat allocation upon leveling is automatic and tied to the chosen character. After clearing a small camp and leveling up at a Site of Grace, we'd opt for tackling one of the larger forts or risk a fight with a nearby field boss for more gains. With the circle enclosing, we'd always try to find a Church of Marika toward the outside to obtain more flask charges before it's inaccessible. To facilitate these decisions, there's an easy-to-use ping system reminiscent of Helldivers 2 where players can mark a spot on the map, and teammates can highlight that ping to acknowledge it.

Each destination involves rapid risk assessment. Should we try to clear a labyrinthine mine for some Smithing Stones to upgrade our weapons before the circle encloses it? Should we open up a Gaol and hope we luck out with an easy boss for some fast Runes and a powerful boss perk? Sometimes, we'd risk running into the circle to grab something valuable. It's not instant death, so there's room for risky plays. To save time, we'd occasionally send a lone player on their own to climb a nearby tower for loot. Elden Ring Nightreign is full of verticality, and players can now mantle ledges and wall-climb all without fear of fall damage.

Gear, Perks, and Progression in Elden Ring Nightreign

Gear in Elden Ring Nightreign is one of its most interesting systems. Each piece of gear comes with passive effects that function whether held or not, meaning our magic-focused Recluse would sometimes grab an ultra greatsword for passives like "less likely to be targeted." There is no equip load system and gear has no stat requirement, and this might be one of the best things about Elden Ring Nightreign. In just a few hours, we experienced a variety of weapons and playstyles that would have taken dozens of hours in Elden Ring locating, upgrading, and speccing for—we could wield the Moonlight Greatsword and Maliketh's Black Blade in either hand with no consequences. Bows have infinite ammo, and the Recluse can stay topped-up on FP indefinitely. Having a full set of weapons with synergized passives is crucial, and this manifests in entirely different loadouts from run to run.

Defeating bosses gives players a choice of perks that can be extremely useful. One might make the player's flask heal everyone in the party, while another can cause fire to erupt from the ground wherever the player walks. Ignoring intimidating bosses in favor of easy runes from small-fry enemies may be tempting, but racking up these perks can greatly improve the party's chances. These perks can also be earned from the game's random events: one of the few we experienced was a horde of giant ants to fend off. Another event was an invasion by Morgott, who follows and harasses the party until he's defeated or the party is wiped out.

When a player is downed, they can be revived by other players dealing damage to their body. The threshold for revival gets higher for each successive defeat, making clumsy plays snowball into frantic rushes to revive a player. If they aren't saved in time, they'll lose a hard-earned level but can still return to retrieve dropped Runes. It's a major setback for the party to lose levels later on, especially since gear passives are only activated at their appropriate levels—level 12 for Legendary gear, for example.

The final means for players to grow in power is Nightreign's roguelike meta-progression. Back at Roundtable Hold, there's a Relic Rites Altar where combinations of Relics acquired during runs can be equipped for each character. They can come with some handy bonuses, with some adding scarlet rot buildup to melee attacks, increasing AP after a Gaol is completed, or decreasing the cast time of sorceries. A currency tied to these Relics alludes to a vendor where more can be purchased or upgraded. Relics are also color-coded, and we noticed some relics had character-specific bonuses tied to colors incompatible with that character. From this, we can surmise that there will be a way for players to change the colors of Relic slots on characters or potentially add more slots. Bandai Namco was tight-lipped about the unseen depths of these systems. Roundtable Hold also features a training ground where players can equip every weapon in the game to test gear and Relic combinations on target dummies.

Elden Ring Nightreign's Characters Have Distinct Abilities

Nightreign's characters are another point where the game deviates substantially from its predecessor. Not only do they have predetermined stats, but they also boast unique abilities that emphasize specific playstyles or add utility to the group.

The Wylder

The all-rounder character is the Wylder. Initially armed with a greatsword and buckler, his abilities are well-suited to most situations and ideal for less-experienced Elden Ring players. His passive ability allows him to take a single hit for free, which is life-saving against tougher bosses. His active ability, Hookshot, can rapidly pull him toward larger foes or yank smaller ones into melee range. It can also be used on the environment to help him cover distances quickly. The follow-up swing after using Hookshot can even be empowered by Relics, with one giving his weapon a temporary fire buff upon use.

The Wylder's Ultimate is an explosive hit that can sometimes instantly poise-break bosses, interrupting a dangerous mechanic or enabling a critical strike. These Ultimate abilities are charged by dealing damage in combat—something the Wylder's kit excels at.

The Guardian

The Guardian is an archetypical tank character who begins with a greatshield and a spear. His passive enables him to take a fortified stance with his shield to absorb extreme damage, and his active ability allows him to muster up a whirlwind that can launch smaller enemies into the air or deal respectable damage to bosses. The winged Guardian's Ultimate has him soaring high before performing a devastating dive-bomb attack.

The Dutchess

The Dutchess is essentially a rogue character, armed with a dagger and a passive enabling her to dodge twice in succession. Her active ability "replays" two seconds of damage on an enemy, which can be exceedingly strong when coordinated with the other party members' Ultimates. Her own Ultimate casts a veil over herself and the party, rendering them nearly invisible and harder to target.

The Recluse

The Recluse is certainly the most complex character of the bunch. Starting with a glintstone staff, her primary mechanic is her ability to absorb elements inflicted on enemies. Each time she does, she also recovers FP. Once three have been absorbed, this ability becomes a new spell for her to cast based on the combination. It's even possible to throw pots at enemies to "force" the absorption of a desired element. Her Ultimate marks an enemy that, when damaged, heals attackers.

While every combination of characters felt viable, we overcame the final boss using two Wylders and a Recluse. It'll be interesting to see players attempt triple-Dutchess runs, while less confident parties may opt for three Wylders.

Based on a held-back look at Elden Ring Nightreign, it's already clear that FromSoftware has succeeded with this experiment. The addictive roguelike loop, the time pressure of a Fortnite circle, a more accessible and distilled version of Elden Ring's combat, and a strong social component all make for a game that will likely resonate with Souls veterans and newcomers alike.

Elden Ring Nightreign will release in 2025 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant was provided travel and lodging for the purposes of this preview.